President Mark Keenum (right) congratulates Rick Travis on being named 2010 Professor of the Year in Mississippi by the Council for Advancement and Support of Education and the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching. A reception for the Department of Political Science and Public Administration associate professor was held last Tuesday. PHOTO: Russ Houston | University Relations

Nomination period for Research Awards opensThe nomination period has opened for Mississippi State's 2011 Research Awards and the Ralph E. Powe Research Excellence Award. Employees and students are encouraged to submit nominations for this year's program.

Forde co-chairing Universal Accreditation BoardAssociate Professor and Department of Communication Head John Forde, APR, Fellow PRSA, has been appointed co-chair of the Universal Accreditation Board, the leading certification body for the public relations profession.

'Come to the Cabaret' Tuesday nightA collaborative entertainment program titled "Come to the Cabaret: A Lecture-Recital on Cabaret Songs by Great Composers and Poets" will be featured Tuesday. Faculty singers will include tenor Wayne Davis, soprano Rebecca Wascoe, and baritones Guy Hargrove and Gregory Wascoe.

Mississippi lab supports AuburnWhen Auburn University officials needed help investigating an attack on part of their school's history, they turned to Mississippi State University.

This Week in Mississippi State Sports, 02/21/11Men's Golf plays the Mobile Bay Intercollegiate Monday and Tuesday... Baseball hosts Northwestern State at 4 p.m. Tuesday, and opens a weekend series with Belmont Friday at 4 p.m.... Softball hosts Southern Miss at 4 p.m. Wednesday, and travels to Kennesaw, Ga., for a tournament this weekend... Men's Basketball hosts LSU on Wednesday, and CSS has the 8 p.m. broadcast from The Hump. The team travels to Tennessee Saturday for a 5 p.m. tipoff with the Volunteers on ESPN... Women's Basketball is on the road Thursday at Alabama, 6 p.m., and hosts Ole Miss at 2 p.m. Sunday. Men's Tennis plays TCU at 3 p.m. Friday in Fort Worth, and has a match with Baylor Sunday at 1 p.m. in Waco. Women's Tennis hosts Louisiana-Monroe Sunday at noon. Women's Golf opens play in the Sir Pizza Cards Challenge Sunday. Track & Field is on the road this weekend for the SEC Championships and USA Indoor Championships.

Distance education on AOCE's menu TuesdayDistance education will be on the menu when the Division of Academic Outreach and Continuing Education hosts the February installment of its Lunch-n-Learn series on Tuesday.

BET executive on campus this weekAs part of Mississippi State's observance of Black History Month, Black Entertainment Television executive Paxton Baker will be on campus Thursday.